House Bill 17-1186 asks health insurers that are required under current law to provide contraception coverage to extend coverage to provide 12-month's worth of oral contraceptives for a woman with a prescription.

HB 1186 further improves women's access to contraception by reducing unnecessary trips to health care providers and giving women more of the tools they need to ensure the highest quality of care possible.

"Reducing barriers to health care for women, and improving access to contraception improves the overall health and well-being of Colorado," said Coram. "Women's health care needs require near-constant attention and lifelong commitments. In rural Colorado, the nearest pharmacy can be an hour away and frequent trips are not a reality many Coloradans can afford. Today, we helped improve access for those who need it most, and took a crucial step in decreasing the number of unwanted pregnancies, and the associated repercussions in Colorado."